Three tips for a future of hybrid teaching Brad Chan offers three tips for making hybrid learning work for all, based on his experience teaching languages Brad ChanYew Chung College of Early Childhood Education
Chinese universities face a tricky route to the topChina’s institutions are undoubtedly on the up, but they need to smash their glass ceiling to truly register on the world stage, says James ChinJames ChinUniversity of Tasmania
Why miss out on revenue when universities can take more blended learning in-house?Institutions are embracing the opportunity to create and deliver their own online programmes, but they’re realising that means more to think about, says Elliot FelixElliot FelixBrightspot
How universities can ensure they have a positive impact on local communitiesJane Robinson offers advice on developing effective ‘civic engagement’ strategies to ensure universities have a positive long-term impact on local communitiesJane RobinsonNewcastle University
How to embed public engagement into your teaching and research activities Carenza Lewis shares a step-by-step guide for embedding public engagement into your institution’s research and teaching Carenza LewisUniversity of Lincoln
Don’t be fooled – community outreach can be even better onlineCovid and the move online made audiences even larger for our student-led social media workshops aimed at local businesses, say Dennis Olsen and Kristin BreweDennis Olsen, Kristin BreweUniversity of West London
Making large-scale civic engagement projects a reality Matthew Andrews offers advice on how universities should approach ambitious large-scale civic engagement projects to bring plans to fruition Matthew AndrewsUniversity of Gloucestershire
Three steps to successful rapid-response civic engagement with students Kathleen Riach outlines key lessons from successfully leading a rapid-response civic engagement project with students to help over 50s gain better digital accessKathleen RiachUniversity of Glasgow
Three things to think about when returning to campusEmily Walker puts forward three key considerations to help staff mentally prepare themselves for returning to a campus that may have a very different look and feelEmily WalkerLiverpool John Moores University
Dead rank? Non-native speakers losing out on local dialects onlineLet’s face it, the virtual classroom isn’t the best environment for international students to get to grips with linguistic diversity, says Andrew MackenzieAndrew MackenzieBritish Council
Directing research to engage and support local communities Helen Szoor-McElhinney and colleagues describe how academics can shape their research around key community needs and encourage participation from multidisciplinary faculty, students and local people Helen Szoor-McElhinney, Alette Willis, Liam GilchristThe University of Edinburgh
Don’t forget that not all internet access is created equal Broadband quality, and thus suitability for online tuition, varies greatly depending on where students come from, say Darragh Flannery, Dónal Palcic and John CullinanDarragh Flannery, Donal Palcic, John CullinanUniversity of Limerick, National University of Ireland Galway
Instructional design advice: how to translate your academic knowledge into an effective online course Instructional designer Marcello Crolla talks through the basics of how to create effective, engaging online courses Marcello CrollaThe University of Edinburgh
How universities can build meaningful collaborations to solve societal challenges For universities to extend their impact and community engagement, they need to form strong partnerships with external organisations and individuals. Alicia Wilson shares seven guiding principles that support successful collaborationAlicia WilsonJohns Hopkins University
This is our chance to create the classroom of the futureWe know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne KollerDaphne KollerStanford University
Open to all? Using our physical and digital spaces to better engage local communities Richard Calvert explores what role universities’ physical spaces should play in civic engagement and how digital technologies can support this Richard CalvertSheffield Hallam University
Equitable teaching that creates pathways to success for all students Andrew Estrada Phuong and co-authors present a framework for an adaptive equity-oriented pedagogy that helps diverse students achieve better resultsAndrew Estrada Phuong, Judy Nguyen, Fabrizio Mejia, Christopher Hunn, Dena MarieUniversity of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Orinda Academy
Turning a new page: information literacy goes onlineXiaowei Li and Lulu Wang explore how to take an on-campus institution such as a university library online to deliver hands-on information literacy skills to students around the world Xiaowei Li, Lulu WangXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Distance learners deserve better than HE’s latest bait and switch Remote learning is the latest scapegoat being used to justify returning to the ‘normal’ of rising tuition costs and sky-high student debt, says Zachary Michael JackZachary Michael JackNorth Central College
Overcoming barriers to accessible and inclusive digital learningTim Coughlan offers three key strategies that help to make digital learning more accessible and inclusive, each relating to technology, study support and pedagogyTim CoughlanThe Open University
Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nationAt a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo PadronEduardo PadronMiami Dade College
Co-creation of curricula with students: a case study Eric Tsui outlines a method he uses to enhance student learning through the co-creation of new scenarios for curriculum development in their discipline Eric TsuiThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University
A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fallExtra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd ZakrajsekTodd ZakrajsekUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Creating internship opportunities: showing employers the value in humanities and social sciences Jonathan Sim describes how he engaged with local employers to open internship opportunities to humanities and social sciences students who would not previously have been considered Jonathan SimNational University of Singapore
Returning to ‘normal’ is really a return to ignoranceCovid revealed that students need flexible and inclusive learning opportunities − something that should have been obvious well before the pandemic, says Torrey TrustTorrey TrustUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
High tech and high touch: designing a bridging system to help students prepare for STEM studies Karin Avnit, Victor Wang and Prasad Iyer describe how combining technology-supported learning with targeted face-to-face instruction helps ensure all students start university with the knowledge and skills they need to succeedKarin Avnit , Victor Wang, Prasad IyerSingapore Institute of Technology
The digital shift will have many (positive) side-effectsIn the not-so-distant future, we’ll realise the digital transformation has changed higher education for the better, in ways we never expected, say Rick Shangraw and Wayne BovierRick Shangraw, Wayne BovierCintana Education, Higher Digital
Solving future problems today: Making HyFlex learning work for all Trent Montgomery shares the key considerations for developing effective hybrid flexible teaching that will boost universities’ educational offering in the long term Trent Montgomery Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
How leaders can seize higher ed’s ‘catalytic moment for change’Those that lead by example, reward innovative faculty and increase campus-wide buy-in will determine the future of higher education, says Jon McNaughtanJon McNaughtanTexas Tech University
Are online exams better for student mental health?Traditional exams under tightly invigilated conditions are highly stressful for students, but online alternatives bring their own issues, says Michael PriestleyMichael PriestleyDurham University
Global virtual exchange: promoting international learningChristopher Brighton presents a model of global virtual exchange that could be easily replicated at any institution to enhance its students’ intercultural knowledge and skillsChristopher BrightonXi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
The joy of text in a world of tech zealotry Why do we fetishise high-tech teaching while denigrating reading as a second-rate learning style? asks Andy FarnellAndy FarnellCampus
Designing postgraduate education as a means of sharing and developing academic and professional knowledge Gill Aitken and Tim Fawns explain how to design online postgraduate courses that operate at the boundaries of the academic and professional worldsGill Aitken, Tim FawnsThe University of Edinburgh
Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, tooThe social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt Elizabeth A. LehfeldtCleveland State University
It’s a game changer: using design thinking to find solutions to the Sustainable Development GoalsRachel Bickerdike explains how using design thinking to find solutions to the Sustainable Development Goals can open up a new world of social entrepreneurship for students Rachel Bickerdike Durham University
Professors, stop pretending that you never cheatAcademics should drop the holier-than-thou attitude and look at cheating from a student’s perspective if we want to understand and eradicate it, says Hamish BinnsHamish BinnsSaint Louis University
How to design unforgettable class activities that help students learn better These teaching techniques are designed to pique students’ emotions and lodge key lessons more firmly in their memories Jonathan SimNational University of Singapore
Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learningDuring the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-ChellmanAli Carr-ChellmanUniversity of Dayton
It’s not you, it’s me: taking responsibility for student engagement and interaction Maia Forrester and Ian Lee share lessons in boosting student engagement and interaction when teaching online, based on their experience training medical educators Maia Forrester, Ian LeeThe University of Edinburgh
How do we rescue the reputation of blended learning?To convince students and stakeholders that blended learning is worth the full tuition fee, we need to tell them exactly how it will work, says Russell CrawfordRussell CrawfordFalmouth University
Making the most of online educational resources: a case study Pascal Grange explains how online educational resources can be used to complement teaching and enhance students’ opportunities for learning Pascal Grange Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Never forget: your course is not only yoursToo much of our instructional design undershoots the potential of higher education to improve not only individual lives but also the public good, says Robin DeRosaRobin DeRosaPlymouth State University
How resetting motivations can help faculty achieve better teaching and well-being during challenging times Faculty members’ personal motivations impacted their attitudes towards meeting the challenges of the pandemic, and in turn, their well-being and teaching quality, research suggests Martin Daumiller, Raven Rinas, Julia Hein, Stefan Janke, Oliver Dickhäuser, Markus DreselUniversity of Augsburg, University of Mannheim
Recognition of academia’s ‘invisible labour’ is long overdueWe must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions, on par with teaching, research and management, say Shari Boodts and Fleur JongepierShari Boodts, Fleur JongepierRadboud University
More screen time: using instructor-featured video to create connection onlineAaron Smith explains why instructor-featured videos are such a powerful tool for keeping remote-learning students grounded and for providing a sense of human connection, based on his research Aaron SmithUniversity of Waterloo
After the gold rush: how to respond to the Chinese student downswingAs the country’s outbound study trend cools, student recruitment strategies must evolve – and there is no ‘next China’ to fall back on, says Matt DurninMatt DurninBritish Council
Boosting student motivation through course design Maurice Kinsella and Niamh Nestor explain how to use self-determination theory as a guide to boost student motivation through careful online course designMaurice Kinsella, Niamh Nestor, John WyattUniversity College Dublin
Tips for engaging Asian universities and alumni in new modes of collaboration Western institutions can continue to forge fruitful collaborations with Asian universities and attract students from the region. Here, Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan shares two key recommendations for how to do it Benjamin Tak Yuen ChanHong Kong Metropolitan University
Rethinking higher education in Asia post-pandemic: five key trends Allan Yuen Hoi-kau highlights five trends to look out for as higher education in Asia evolves post-pandemic, and shares tips on striking a balance between technology and learning objectives Allan Yuen Hoi-kau Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education
What does the rise of Asia mean for global higher education?Many hurdles remain, from racism to presumed Western superiority, but equal dialogues and collaborations will foster the global common good, says Xin XuXin XuUniversity of Oxford